The Moody Trend That's Replacing Bright Bathroom Lighting

When it comes to bathroom lighting, there's no denying there are times you'll want a good source of bright light — the last thing you want is bad lighting while you're doing your makeup or shaving your face. There is a time and place, however, for moody lighting in the bathroom. And lately, more people are seeing the benefits of bringing softer, less-bright options into the space. While incorporating darker lighting might seem counterintuitive at first, it can actually make your bathroom feel like a wellness retreat. In a recent TikTok video, interior designer Phoenix Grey shared a condo renovation where he totally upgraded the vibe of the bathroom by putting all the lights on dimmers. The "secret sauce," he added, was installing an adjustable cove light in the shower — perfect for more relaxed early morning or late-night showers. 

Putting lights on dimmers is one of Nate Berkus' smart lighting tips to keep your home zen, and while it's been a popular choice for years in areas like the kitchen and living room, it hasn't always felt like a priority in the bathroom. Now, as people lean more into warm, cozy interiors, rather than bright, minimal ones, they're starting to rethink their bathroom lighting. "You can set the mood with the dimmer and actually walk into the space and feel like it's an experience," Grey explained in his video. His followers agreed, with one noting, "I hate getting blasted with bright light first thing in the morning," while another compared the moody lighting to a luxury hotel. 

With so many different stressors in the world these days, more people are saying they want their bathrooms to feel like a calming, stress-free safe space, making it the perfect time to introduce more ambient lighting. It makes sense, after all, to want your bathroom to be a soothing and inviting atmosphere — besides your bedroom, it's often one of the first and last rooms you spend time in every day. The one lighting rule you should always follow for a cozy bathroom is to choose warm light bulbs rather than ones with cool white tones, because the last thing you want is a clinical white light that reminds you of being in a doctor's office.

The trick to balancing moody lighting with functional lighting is to layer your sources. For example, for your mounted ceiling lights — which you want to be the foundation and the brightest source of light —consider bulbs with warm white tones (2700–3000K). Then, bring in accent lighting, such as dimmable strip lighting in the shower and dimmable sconces next to or above your mirror, also in warm white tones. When you want a bright space, you can have everything set to the highest setting. But when you're looking for a soothing space, turn the ceiling light off and adjust the dimmable lights to your liking. Add to the spa-like feel with other touches like eucalyptus in the shower, candles in calming scents like lavender, and more decorative light pieces, such as a Himalayan salt lamp.